One of the hardest parts of being a new vegan (or even an old seasoned vegan) is trying to keep up with all the new products out there. I must have spent over $50 looking for the "right" vegan cheese my first year being a vegan and I have over 50 vegan/vegetarian cookbooks in my arsenal but not all the recipes are the greatest. I’m the first born so I’m used to being a Guinea Pig and now I’m your Vegan Guinea Pig. So here are my recommendations and critiques. Let me know what you think!

About Me

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

All Pro-Science Complete Vegan Protein Supplement

I’m not into protein supplements for a lot of reasons, mostly because it’s incredibly easy to get protein in the diet without having to supplement. But I am a huge fan of smoothies and, in the summer, I usually have a smoothie for breakfast or dinner every day and I like adding all sorts of things to them like greens, nuts, seeds and even the occasional protein supplement. When I was approached by the folks at All Pro Science to try their vegan protein supplement I wasn’t exactly overjoyed. For years I’ve been trying to like Vega supplement only to find myself pinching my nose and forcing it down my throat every time I try it. To put it mildly I hate the stuff. My biggest issue with supplements like Vega is the vanilla they add to the mix. I like vanilla in my candles and cookies but not my smoothies and supplements. All Pro Science has “VANILLA” stamped proudly underneath its 100% All-Vegan label so I already knew my taste buds were in for an unpleasant experience.

I tried All Pro Science a couple ways, in a variety of smoothies, stirred into every juice you can think of and even into a little almond milk. All in all, I have to say that I actually like this stuff. Mind you, the vanilla is still off putting to me but it isn’t as strong as in Vega and the overall formulation of All Pro Science’s protein supplement goes down a lot smoother without any of the grit I’ve found in Vega. All Pro Science is gluten free and uses a mix of Hemp, Pea, and Brown Rice Protein in additional to flax seed powder and has 23 grams of protein per scoop. All Pro Science also doubles as a multi-vitamin and a multi-mineral and is high in all the B vitamins. A container of All Pro Science is also $20 cheaper than Vega and for this reason alone it will be the supplement of choice in my house.

With all that being said I do hold one issue with All Pro Science Complete Vegan Protein Supplement. On the label it says that individuals need to consume 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight which is simply 100% false and scientifically inaccurate. It’s really nothing more than a cheap ploy to sell more protein supplements and further the protein myth. According to the World Health Organization individuals only need 0.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. The USDA’s Recommend Daily Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram. 1 kilo gram = 2.2 pounds. So if you are an individual that weighs 150 lbs then you weigh 68.1 kg and should be taking in somewhere between 34 to 54 grams of protein a day. The American College of Sports Medicine, the American Dietetic Association and the Dietitians of Canada have come up with a consensus protein requirement for individuals in strenuous physical training (this is not for the average person who exercises 5 times a week for at least an hour a day but for someone training on the level of a professional athlete). Their recommendations for resistance athletes is 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight and for endurance athletes 1.2 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight [1]. However, an athlete should be taking in more calories overall because of a higher calorie output and would therefore be eating more carbohydrates, protein and fat in their diet and would also be able to achieve their recommended protein intakes without supplementation. Let’s take the example of our same 150 pound person. If they were a resistance athlete then they would need to consume approximately 109 grams of protein a day and if they were an endurance athlete they would need to consume approximately 81 grams of protein a day. The funny thing is the average American is already consuming 91-113 grams of protein a day[2] and I highly doubt that all those folks are resistance and endurance athletes.

Encouragement of the protein myth aside – I really do like All Pro-Science’s Vegan Protein Supplement and will be adding it to my smoothie’s (at probably ½ a scoop) all summer long.

For Coupons and Discounts on All Pro Science Supplements head to their website

I have trouble finding a palatable protein powder, too. I really appreciate the info on protein needs. On the food tracking website I sometimes use, it recommends 60 - 127 g protein per day, which always seemed like way too much. According to the guides you gave, I need more like 28 - 45, which is the amount that I usually feel best (energized, not groggy or weighed down) with. Thanks!

I'll definitely have to try this! I have a love-hate relationship with Vega. I loved it for a few months, then got a taste-aversion to EVERY flavor that lasted almost a year, and now I'm back to loving it. But my wallet isn't crazy about the price, even though I'm just a 1-scoop girl. Thanks for all the info!

Hey guys, this is Greg from All Pro Science. Thanks for the review. I wanted to let you know that we're coming out with a new flavor of COMPLETE VEGGIE protein, Berry Blast. It should be shipping at the end of July.

We will also be doing some sample packs for those of you that want to try it. We're so sure that you'll love the taste that we'll send you a few servings for free.

P.S. in case you wanted to buy, I set up a code for you guys to save you some cash, its "VEGFRIENDS" and will take 20% off at checkout.

Thanks for the review Alicia..I was using Spirutein protien powders until I noticed bee pollen listed on the ingredients panel. I am having a hard time finding out just how bee pollen is obtained, so I decided to try something different. Being a procrastinater as well as having a broken blender, I have done NOTHING! I will try this product as soon as I get a blender. So, here is my question (sorry for being so long-winded). What kind of blender do you use that can blend greens and make smoothies? Thanks :) Kerri